12 Chemical Engineering Projects for High School Students
Chemical engineering combines chemistry, physics, biology, and math to develop processes that turn raw materials into useful products like clean water, fuels, bioplastics, and medicines. If you're in high school and interested in how science is applied to solve practical problems, exploring chemical engineering through projects can be a good starting point. These projects help you understand key concepts, build problem-solving skills, and see how lab-based work connects to real-world applications. Whether you're new to chemistry or already diving into AP science courses, you can learn about energy systems, reaction kinetics, separation processes, environmental remediation, and more.
These 12 chemical engineering projects for high school students will give you the chance to experiment, investigate, and think like an engineer.
If you are looking for chemical engineering programs and internships, you can check out our blogs here and here.
1. Extract Biofuel from Used Cooking Oil
Subject: Biochemical Engineering, Renewable Energy.
Experience Level: Beginner.
Skills Required: Basic lab safety, understanding of chemical reactions.
In this chemical engineering project for high school students, you'll learn how to create biodiesel from waste cooking oil using a process called transesterification. You’ll combine the oil with an alcohol (like methanol) and a catalyst (like sodium hydroxide), then observe the chemical reaction that produces usable fuel. This simulates how renewable fuels are produced from organic waste in the real world.
Who it's for: If you're passionate about sustainability, green energy, or environmental conservation, this project gives you insight into biofuels and energy systems—key areas within chemical engineering.
Watch out for: The use of flammable and caustic chemicals requires adult supervision, gloves, and goggles.
2. Test the Efficiency of Natural Water Filters
Subject: Environmental Engineering.
Experience Level: Beginner.
Skills Required: Building prototypes, water testing.
You’ll build simple water filtration systems using materials like sand, activated charcoal, and gravel, and then test their ability to remove impurities from contaminated water. Use a home water testing kit or visual inspections (clarity, smell) to compare results across different designs.
Who it's for: If you’re interested in clean water technology, public health, or sustainability, this project will connect you with the challenges chemical engineers face in designing eco-friendly water treatment systems.
Bonus: Try comparing your homemade filters to commercial water filter systems and analyze performance differences.
3. Build a Homemade Electrolyzer to Split Water
Subject: Electrochemical Engineering.
Experience Level: Beginner.
Skills Required: Simple circuitry, knowledge of electrolysis.
Using a 9V battery, water, and graphite or stainless-steel electrodes, you can create a basic electrolyzer that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen. By observing gas bubbles forming at the electrodes, you’ll witness the fundamentals of electrochemical reactions and green hydrogen production.
Who it's for: For those interested in the future of clean energy or curious about how fuel cells work, this project is a great introduction to hydrogen energy and electrochemistry.
Caution: Be careful with electricity and only use low-voltage power sources.
4. Simulate a Chemical Reactor with Baking Soda and Vinegar
Subject: Process Engineering.
Experience Level: Beginner.
Skills Required: Recording data, adjusting variables, and graphing results.
By reacting baking soda with vinegar, you’ll produce carbon dioxide gas and simulate how chemical reactors operate. You can vary the temperature, concentrations, or mixing methods to observe how each change affects the rate of reaction.
Who it's for: If you’re curious about how industrial processes are optimized for speed and yield, this engineering project for high school students introduces you to core ideas behind reactor design and chemical kinetics.
Pro tip: Use a balloon over the reaction container to measure gas production volume.
5. Analyze the Decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide
Subject: Reaction Engineering, Catalysis.
Experience Level: Beginner to Intermediate.
Skills Required: Timing reactions, handling chemicals, and observing foam reactions.
Hydrogen peroxide breaks down into water and oxygen, especially when a catalyst is added. Try using substances like yeast, potassium iodide, or manganese dioxide to see which speeds up the reaction best. You’ll learn about reaction rates, catalysts, and the famous “elephant toothpaste” experiment.
Who it's for: This chemical engineering project for high school students is ideal if you enjoy chemistry labs and want to learn more about how catalysts work in manufacturing or medicine.
Safety note: Always wear gloves and goggles, especially if using stronger peroxide solutions.
6. Create a DIY Water Desalination System
Subject: Thermodynamics.
Experience Level: Beginner.
Skills Required: Heat transfer, design, problem-solving.
Construct a simple solar still or heat-based distillation unit that removes salt from seawater. You’ll explore phase changes, condensation, and real-world desalination technologies. You can compare different designs to see which is most efficient at producing clean water.
Who it's for: Ideal for students drawn to environmental sustainability, climate solutions, or oceanic studies.
Tip: Track temperature, sunlight exposure, and water yield for more detailed analysis.
7. Design a Bioplastic from Starch or Gelatin
Subject: Biochemical Engineering, Materials Science.
Experience Level: Beginner.
Skills Required: Heat-based mixing, measurement, and texture observation.
Mix ingredients like cornstarch, vinegar, and glycerin to produce biodegradable plastic. You’ll experiment with ratios and drying times to alter flexibility and transparency. This introduces you to polymer science and sustainable materials development.
Who it's for: If you're passionate about reducing plastic waste or want to explore materials chemistry, this project is a great fit.
Idea: Try comparing your plastic’s strength or decomposition time with store-bought plastics.
8. Compare the Heat of Combustion in Different Fuels
Subject: Energy Engineering, Thermodynamics.
Experience Level: Intermediate.
Skills Required: Heat measurement, flame safety, calorimetry basics.
You can build a simple calorimeter to measure how much energy different fuels (wax, vegetable oil, ethanol) release when burned. By measuring the temperature change in a set amount of water, you can estimate each fuel's heat of combustion.
Who it's for: Ideal for those fascinated by energy systems, fuel efficiency, or even rocket propulsion—this project gives you a solid introduction to thermodynamics.
Important: Work in a ventilated space and have fire safety measures in place.
9. Simulate Crude Oil Refining with Fractional Distillation
Subject: Petroleum Engineering, Chemical Separation.
Experience Level: Intermediate.
Skills Required: Temperature monitoring, understanding of boiling points.
Using a mix of liquids like water, alcohol, and oil-based substances, you’ll simulate how crude oil is refined into gasoline, diesel, and other products. This engineering project for high school students teaches you about fractional distillation—a core process in chemical engineering.
Who it's for: Students curious about energy infrastructure, oil refining, or industrial-scale separations.
Safety First: Use proper glassware, keep a thermometer handy, and monitor heat sources carefully.
10. Use pH Indicators to Test Soil Acidity
Subject: Agricultural Chemistry, Environmental Engineering.
Experience Level: Beginner.
Skills Required: Color observation, sample comparison, and documentation.
Create a homemade pH indicator from red cabbage or turmeric and use it to test the acidity of soil samples from your yard or community. You’ll learn about acid-base chemistry and how soil pH affects plant growth and agricultural yield.
Who it's for: If you’re drawn to sustainability, farming science, or climate adaptation, this introduces you to applied chemistry in the real world.
Expand it: Track changes over time, especially after rain or fertilizer use.
11. Study the Kinetics of Rust Formation
Subject: Materials Science, Corrosion Engineering.
Experience Level: Intermediate.
Skills Required: Long-term observation, scientific journaling, and data logging.
Place iron nails in different solutions—saltwater, vinegar, plain water—and observe how quickly they rust. You can measure rusting visually or by weighing the nails before and after. This project teaches you about oxidation, corrosion, and how engineers design materials to resist environmental damage.
Who it's for: This investigative engineering project for high school students is best for those curious about materials science, construction, or how pipelines and vehicles are protected.
Tip: Photograph your samples daily for visual documentation.
12. Bioremediation: Test Microorganisms’ Ability to Degrade Oil
Subject: Environmental Engineering, Biotechnology.
Experience Level: Advanced.
Skills Required: Microbiology, sterile technique, and scientific ethics.
Explore how certain safe bacteria (e.g., Pseudomonas fluorescens) can break down oil. Use a petri dish or container with vegetable oil as a model contaminant, introduce bacteria, and observe how the oil content changes over time. This showcases how chemical engineers and microbiologists clean up oil spills.
Who it's for: This project is a good option if you’re interested in biotechnology, microbiology, or ecological engineering. It connects chemistry with life sciences and real-world problem-solving.
Data Source Suggestion: Check out Kaggle's Oil Spill Datasets for inspiration or comparative analysis.
If you’re looking to build a project/research paper in the field of AI & ML, consider applying to Veritas AI!
With Veritas AI, which was founded by Harvard graduate students, you can work 1-on-1 with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more to create unique, personalized projects. In the past year, we have had over 1000 students learn AI & ML with us. Check out a past student’s experience in the program here and apply here!
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